In a significant step toward deepening India-US strategic ties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday in the national capital. The meeting, which took place in South Block, focused on enhancing defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, and collaboration in niche technological areas, marking a key moment in the evolving partnership between the two nations.
Gabbard, on a two-and-a-half-day visit to India—her first high-level trip as a senior official in the Donald Trump administration—met Singh to discuss a wide range of issues aimed at bolstering bilateral security ties. The discussions come on the heels of her meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Sunday, where intelligence-sharing mechanisms and counterterrorism strategies were key topics. Singh took to the social media platform X to express his satisfaction with the meeting, stating, “Happy to have met the US Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues, which include defence and information sharing, aiming to further deepen the India-US partnership.”
A major highlight of the talks was Singh’s push for the US to designate the Khalistani separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, as a terrorist organization—a classification India has already adopted. Official sources revealed that Singh emphasized SFJ’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities, reportedly backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), urging the US to take action to send a strong global message against such groups. This request underscores India’s ongoing concerns about cross-border extremism and its impact on national security.
The meeting also explored opportunities to advance defence innovation, with both leaders addressing the integration of defense industrial supply chains and interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries. The Indian Defence Ministry noted that the talks reflected progress under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, adopted in 2023, which prioritizes co-production in areas like jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems. Recent developments, such as India’s $3.5 billion deal in October 2024 to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones from the US, were also part of the broader context, highlighting the growing defense collaboration aimed at countering regional threats, particularly from China.
Gabbard’s visit aligns with a busy diplomatic calendar for India. On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 10th Raisina Dialogue, a premier global conference on geopolitics, where New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivered the keynote address. Gabbard is slated to speak at the Dialogue on March 18, concluding the Asia leg of her multi-nation tour, which included stops in Japan and Thailand. Her presence at the event, hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation, underscores her role in strengthening Indo-Pacific security frameworks.
The talks between Singh and Gabbard build on recent high-level engagements, including PM Modi’s February 2025 visit to Washington, where he met Gabbard and praised her as a “strong votary” of India-US friendship. The Defence Ministry highlighted Gabbard’s admiration for Indian culture as a factor that further enriches bilateral ties. Meanwhile, the discussions also touched on maritime security and emerging threats in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the partnership.
As India aims to expand its defense capabilities and exports—targeting Rs 203 billion by FY25—the meeting signals a mutual commitment to innovation and resilience. With the Trump administration emphasizing peace and freedom in the Indo-Pacific, as articulated by Gabbard earlier in March, the India-US defence relationship appears poised for deeper integration, balancing strategic interests amid a shifting global landscape.
